Long-Term Illness in Adults Hospitalized for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease, United States, February 2022-September 2023
Recommended Citation
Leis A, Womack K, Maxcy C, Caldwell E, Cheng C, Cornelison S, Surie D, Dawood F, Saydah S, Gaglani M, Columbus C, Duggal A, Busse L, Giles L, Vaughn IA, Peltan I, Hager D, Mohamed A, Exline M, Khan A, Wilson J, Mosier J, Chang S, Ginde A, Mohr N, Mallow C, Harris E, Johnson N, Gibbs K, Kwon J, Safdar B, Martin E, Self W, Hough C, Han J. Long-Term Illness in Adults Hospitalized for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease, United States, February 2022-September 2023. Emerging infectious diseases 2025; 31(14):20-29.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2025
Publication Title
Emerging infectious diseases
Keywords
Humans, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections, Male, Hospitalization, Female, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Adult, COVID-19, United States, Aged, SARS-CoV-2, Young Adult, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human, Aged, 80 and over
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe illness, but little is known about long-term consequences in hospitalized adults. We surveyed adults (>18 years of age) who survived hospitalization for RSV or COVID-19 during February 2022-September 2023 about physical functioning and quality of life; surveys were conducted 6-12 months after hospitalization. We compared outcomes after RSV hospitalization by age (< 60 vs. >60 years) and to those hospitalized for COVID-19 by using multivariable regression models. Among 146 adults hospitalized with RSV, 27.4% reported severe breathlessness and 21.9% poor quality of life at follow-up. Few differences were seen in posthospital illness by age. After adjustment, participants with RSV had 1.81 (95% CI 1.08-3.04) times increased odds of worse dyspnea than did those with COVID-19. Participants reported functional and quality of life impairments after RSV hospitalization, regardless of age, and a postdischarge sequelae constellation similar to that for those hospitalized for COVID-19.
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Male; Hospitalization; Female; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Adult; COVID-19; United States; Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Young Adult; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed ID
41570181
Volume
31
Issue
14
First Page
20
Last Page
29
